Opinion on Bus forsale

Kevinmc5 · February 02, 2011, 05:25:58 PM

Hi very new newbie Would like your opinion on a 1977 Mci Mc5c for sale @ NW Bus sales have done construction all my life, can re-do insides. Is this a good platfrom to start? I'm on a buget. I won't get any do overs on buying a bus. Thanks for your help Kevin

John316 · February 02, 2011, 05:34:18 PM

Welcome aboard, Kevin.

We will need some more information. How much are you looking at paying? If it was 1k drivable with nothing wrong with it, I would say jump on it. If it was 40K with tires rotted off and the engine blown, I would say run...

Do you have any pictures of the bus? What other information do you have? How close to you? Have you driven it?

How much do you think the conversion will cost you? Is it an empty shell, or already converted?

Let us know.

God bless,

John

Kevinmc5 · February 02, 2011, 05:43:50 PM

I do not know how to make a link to the web site But it is nwbus.com I live in idaho and it is in seattle . 12k is alot of money for me.

wildbob24 · February 02, 2011, 05:44:59 PM

Is this it?

http://www.nwbus.com/products/product_view.cgi?id_number=618859580109

robertglines1 · February 02, 2011, 05:46:00 PM

12 might be steep : notice our answer over lapped. I will let the Mci 5 guys answer this question. Are the rest of the house systems complete?

rv_safetyman · February 02, 2011, 05:56:16 PM

As has been said, the $12K is probably double what it will bring in this terrible market.

I did not watch the video, but the conversion has just begun and not much is hooked up. No mention of a generator. I am not familiar with the inverter, but if it is a full sine wave, that is a good thing.

The 6V71 will be pretty puny on any kind of hill and a real dog at altitude.

Those are the negatives. It looks like a good starter project from the description and photos.

You would want a person, well versed in buses and two stroke engines, to examine the bus very closely. Any major issue will double your cost at the drop of a hat.

Jim

Kevinmc5 · February 02, 2011, 06:01:45 PM

Wildbob25 yes that's it thinks for your help

luvrbus · February 02, 2011, 06:08:58 PM

to much cash for that one and you living in Idaho that bus will not do well, maybe it would if you stay around Blackfoot

good luck

John316 · February 02, 2011, 06:18:33 PM

Kevin,

There is no way in this world I would pay that much for that bus, in today's market.

Take some time. Look in at least a full day's drive, and you will find one eventually. You can do it...

God bless,

John

JohnEd · February 02, 2011, 06:53:48 PM

Kevin,

Luvrbus is the most qualified and best source of advice and he has given you his. You would never never never walk into a dealer and say something like "gimme $12K worth of bus". Booooo! With the calibre of people here you can get away with that and also know that they are watching each other. Clifford (Luvrbus) doesn't put himself out there as a broker and he isn't one. He does, however, probably know more than a few. Send him a PM and ask about assistance and where to get it. No matter what, advice on a vehicle is really a bad thing fraught with disappointment and I wouldn't blame anyone for not wanting to get involved with a recommendation. The best advice is to have a Charter Bus Co. evaluate the bus systems, have a RV repair shop eval the house systems and have DD eval the engine and trans. Sprayed in foam insulation is very close to a "must have". And there are a ton of other important points.

I suggest you be private bout this in specifics. We all have PM and email addresses listed.

HTH

John

Boomer · February 02, 2011, 07:24:07 PM

Vandersnick (NW Bus Sales) doesn't exactly have the best reputation in the world. Beware, not enough bus and too much $$ IMHO.

thejumpsuitman · February 02, 2011, 07:27:48 PM

All I can say is that I have been looking for a year and a half and had 3 or 4 deals fall through. Thank God! Prices keep dropping and dropping. Bad for bus owners, good for buyers like us. I am continually shocked at some of the deals I see. The more time goes by, the more money I have been able to save. And the more time passes, the further that money goes and the more bus we will be able to get! It's like Barn Owl said on another post, time is on the buyers side. The longer you can wait, the better the deal you can get. I needed every bit of the year and a half to truly learn about buses and to be able to follow the ever changing (falling) market for buses.

robertglines1 · February 02, 2011, 07:30:09 PM

Kevin like rest said hang around here a little and you might come across a deal. they want new price for all of conversion stuff supplied and even though it might be new it is in fact used. to finish it you would need a generator 1 to 10 grand couple air cond 650 ea new. ck dates on tires could be a 2400 $ investment don't run past 10 yrs old.(no matter what they look like.) just a few things to think about. Ask questions there is no dumb question except the one not ask. Bob

luvrbus · February 02, 2011, 07:31:54 PM

I wasn't going to go there Boomer LOL I have had round with him

good luck

Kevinmc5 · February 02, 2011, 08:53:20 PM

Thank you all for the info and the opinions. The amount of time it's been on the market telles me something. Good to get grounded. Hope to talk to you soon. thank you once again. kevin